Spotify Wrapped 2025 has highlighted a remarkable year for Irish music, with Kneecap surpassing The Beatles and Elton John in listener numbers within Ireland, as exclusively reported by NME.
Spotify Wrapped 2025 Launch
On Wednesday, December 3, Spotify Wrapped 2025 was unveiled, showcasing the most popular songs, artists, and albums of the past year. Globally, artists like Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift, The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, and Bruno Mars dominated listening habits. In the UK, Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Alex Warren, and Billie Eilish led the charts. However, exclusive data shared with NME highlights the ongoing global impact of Irish music.
Irish Music’s Global Reach
In 2024, Irish artists achieved 14.6 billion streams worldwide, with 95% of these streams coming from outside Ireland. In 2025, this trend continued, with increased listener numbers in the US, Canada, South Korea, and Germany. By August, Irish music streams had grown by 20% in the first quarter, adding 9.8 billion listeners.
Key Artists and Albums
Fontaines D.C. maintained their success with the 2024 album ‘Romance’, ranking in the top 10 most-streamed albums in Ireland and placing among the UK’s top 70 artists. The Belfast rap group Kneecap gained significant attention with their album ‘Fine Art’, a BAFTA-winning biopic, and a legal battle with the British government. Kneecap achieved 26 million streams in Ireland, surpassing The Beatles and Elton John, as confirmed by Spotify to NME.
Emerging Irish Talent
2025 saw acclaimed releases from Just Mustard and NewDad, with CMAT’s Mercury-nominated LP ‘Euro-Country’ standing out. This album ranked among Ireland’s top 100 albums and attracted 1.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Her viral hit ‘Take A Sexy Picture Of Me’ has exceeded 23 million streams and will feature prominently in summer festivals in 2026, including Electric Picnic alongside Fontaines and Gorillaz.
Hozier’s Continued Success
Hozier, headliner of Reading & Leeds in summer 2025, has two albums in Ireland’s top 50 on Spotify and ranks among the top 100 global artists and top 50 in the UK. His tracks ‘Too Sweet’ and ‘Take Me To Church’ are in the top 125 songs worldwide, with both in the UK’s top 55.
Other Notable Mentions
Kingfishr ranked as the third most-streamed artist in Ireland, behind Taylor Swift and Zach Bryan. Their song ‘Killeagh’ was Ireland’s top song on Spotify in 2025, while Amble’s ‘Reverie’ was the most listened to album, surpassing Noah Kahan and Sabrina Carpenter.
Insights from Spotify
Spotify’s Shannon Carragher commented on the unique appeal of Irish artists, noting their ability to blend intimacy with scale. “Their music combines emotional honesty, wit, and self-awareness, making it relatable even to those unfamiliar with Ireland,” she told NME.
“They express lived experiences with vulnerability, appealing to listeners seeking authenticity over polished perfection,” she added. “Irish artists’ music is globally resonant, with acts like CMAT, NewDad, and Kettama set to perform at Coachella next year.”
Political and Ethical Stances
Fontaines D.C. and Kneecap are among artists participating in the No Music For Genocide campaign, advocating for their music to be restricted on streaming platforms in Israel, following a UN inquiry into events in Gaza. Massive Attack and Paul Weller have already succeeded in their boycott efforts.
Spotify’s Controversies
Spotify faced scrutiny in 2025 over artist payment issues and CEO Daniel Ek’s investments. Massive Attack, among others, boycotted the platform due to Ek’s €600 million investment in Helsing, a company developing military technology. The band requested their music’s removal, citing ethical concerns about funding military advancements.
CEO Transition and AI Measures
Daniel Ek announced he would step down as CEO on January 1, 2026, with Alex Norström and Gustav Söderström set to succeed him. Spotify has also removed 75 million AI-generated tracks and targeted impersonators, while reporting a $10 billion payout in royalties in 2024, a record for the industry.
